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When my friend Matthew turned down an offer for a lucrative marketing position two weeks ago (it conflicted with the noncompete agreement from his old employer), he told me he couldnt find another job until the new year. Thats just the way it is in his business, he said. Once the holidays hit, no one hires.
Thats how most job-seekers see it: November and December are lousy months to look. Plus, if youve been hunting for a long time, its a tempting time to take a break.
But Catherine Jewell, an Austin, Texas, career coach and author of the book New Resume, New Career, says job-hunters who keep at it are actually more likely to find a job over the holidays. Among the reasons: Theres less competition, the season puts people in a receptive mood, and all those parties and family gatherings overflow with networking opportunities.
"People forget what great resources they have in their current networks," observes Jewell, who worked in advertising and marketing for 15 years before she became a career coach. Family and friends want to help you, and even if you feel like you already stay in touch regularly, seeing them face-to-face when everyone is in the holiday spirit offers the perfect opportunity for reminding them of exactly what youre looking for. Be as specific as you can during your conversation, Jewell advises. "Tell them the title youre looking for, the kind of company," she says. "Youre asking for information." If youre lucky, your cousin knows someone at the firm where youd love to work, and can provide a lead.
If youre employed and thinking about changing jobs, or if your objective is to make a career switch, holiday gatherings also offer a chance to ask people about their own work. Be inquisitive. "Youre not pushing your agenda," says Jewell. "Youre a sponge for data."
It can be helpful to ask a fellow partygoer whats going on inside her company. Jewell met a woman at a luncheon recently who works for a state agency. She inquired about what was new in the training realm, and the woman said her division was focusing on leadership. Since Jewell does leadership training herself, she suddenly realized shed found a great lead, and she arranged to follow up with a phone call the next week.
In addition to parties thrown by families and friends, there are always plenty of festivities
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